New Study: Abortion, Natural Pregnancy Loss Are Risk Factors for Future Maternal Complications

A new analysis of Medicaid data shows women with a previous pregnancy loss face significantly higher rates of severe maternal morbidity

Washington D.C.—A new peer-reviewed study by Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) researchers used Medicaid data to identify a history of pregnancy loss, which includes miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion, as risk factors for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in future pregnancies. SMM is defined as a life-threatening complication during pregnancy or delivery.

Previous studies suggest a woman’s history of pregnancy loss may contribute to increased risk in future deliveries, but most analyses have relied on limited clinical samples or registry populations outside the U.S. This retrospective study analyzed Medicaid data from 2016-2021, specifically looking at over 1.7 million women who had their first live birth in that timespan. Researchers examined how many of those first live births were complicated by SMM, using the CDC’s list of 21 SMM indicators.

Key points:

• A prior pregnancy loss increased the odds of SMM in future pregnancies by about 55%.
• A history of abortions increased the risk of SMM by about 20% and increased the risk of C-sections in a subsequent first delivery by 12%.
• These findings confirm the importance of identifying women with a history of pregnancy loss as a potential high-risk group for enhanced prenatal monitoring.

Dr. David Reardon, director of the Elliot Institute and associate scholar at CLI, said:

“The data shows clear evidence that abortion is a risk factor for maternal complications, many of which are life threatening, in later pregnancies. This is an avoidable risk factor, and women considering abortion should be warned of this risk along with the elevated risk of premature death and harms to their mental health.”

To read the full study, click here.

Charlotte Lozier Institute was launched in 2011 as the education and research arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. CLI is a hub for research and public policy analysis on some of the most pressing issues facing the United States and nations around the world. The Institute is named for a feminist physician known for her commitment to the sanctity of human life and equal career and educational opportunities for women.

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